Words can be manipulated, especially by skilled politicians. Delivering a message that promotes a goal — even if it means stretching the truth — is something every career politician can do on cue, and there’s nobody more skilled at this than Barack Obama.

Nobody disputes that the former president is a good speaker. Indeed, it was has speech during the 2004 Democrat National Convention that catapulted him onto the national stage.

But even the best speech-makers cannot totally hide their body language. Like a professional poker player with a “tell” that reveals his bluffs, even master manipulators like Obama communicate a lot by how they act … and one self-described body language expert has noticed something very interesting about the 44th president.

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The former president has been stumping for Democrats over the last week, campaigning for liberal candidates in places like Miami to drag his party’s candidates over the finish line in the midterm election.

His words were familiar, with plenty of fear-mongering and scolding to go around. But the nonverbal communication analyst behind the popular “Bombard’s Body Language” video series noticed that there is a stark contrast between the Obama who won two White House bids, and the one trying to rescue Democrats now.

“This is not the same Barack Obama that we have seen,” the expert began in a detailed analysis of the former president’s recent rally appearance. “His head goes down a lot more, in that downward position … it’s like a defeatist position,” she said.

So what does it mean? Well, if the expert is correct, it doesn’t bode well for Democrats.

“This is desperation. And it’s all in his body language … that confidence is no longer there,” she stated. “We’re in hiding mode. We’re stressed.”

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It’s well-known that the stress of being president vastly ages a person. Both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, for example, lost their youthful appearance rapidly during their terms. When they left office, however, a lot of that stress was lifted.

That’s particularly true for Bush, who seemed to regain a lot of his relaxed zest for life after leaving the Oval Office. His post-retirement interviews and appearances showed a man who, despite past criticisms, was at peace with his decisions, and seemed to accept his place in history.

If the former president’s demeanor over the last week is any sign, politicians on his side of the aisle are bracing themselves for a far less victorious midterm election than other pundits predict.

We’ll know for sure on Tuesday, but if conservatives do prevail, or the Democrats don’t do as well as they think they should, don’t be surprised if liberal rhetoric and behavior — like Obama’s tone — becomes even more abrasive.

Benjamin Arie is an independent journalist and writer. He has personally covered everything ranging from local crime to the U.S. president as a reporter in Michigan, before focusing on national politics. Ben frequently travels to Latin America and has spent years living in Mexico.
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Benjamin Arie has been a political junkie since the hotly contested 2000 election. He attended Florida State University and informally majored in women’s studies, primarily the sorority on the other side of his dorm.
After giving rickshaw driving and nightclub management a go, Ben settled on journalism after realizing he could get paid to rant. He cut his teeth on car accidents and house fires as a small-town reporter in Michigan before becoming a full-time political writer.
Benjamin had a front row seat to the 2016 campaign circus while covering angry protesters and Donald Trump’s nomination at the GOP convention in Cleveland, which cemented his view that half of the country is insane. He has lived as an expat in Latin America, and enjoys piloting gliders and scuba diving when he can get away from the grind.